Va. Congressmen Urge Pentagon To Delay BRAC Mark Center Move

As a part of the military's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) project, thousands of new commuters will soon be pouring into the Mark Center. Northern Virginia lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta July 14 warning him that roads in the area can't handle all the new traffic by this December.

Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) says the DOD is moving too quickly for the community. He previously encouraged some of the municipalities in his district to sue the Pentagon over the Mark Center plans.

“They don't talk to anybody, they do their own thing," Moran says. "They think they're above having to worry about the citizenry that lives in the neighborhood or even the members of Congress who represent them."

In the letter, lawmakers say they're "particularly distressed" that 3,800 parking spaces will be opened at the new, non-Metro-accessible center. A bill already passed by the U.S. House imposes a cap of 1,000 parking spaces at the facility until area roads can be upgraded, that bill is still pending in the Senate.